What We Love: Diner En Blanc

Imported from oh-so-gay Paris, Dîner en Blanc is coming to Philly this summer. This très chic picnic is one part mystery tour and one part pop-up feast – with not shortage of, as they say, je ne sais quoi. On Thursday (August 23), culinary and culture enthusiasts dressed in white will converge upon a secret location for an evening of dinner, fine wine and much more.

“Philadelphia is a city full of life with a passion and appreciation for food, tradition and culture which makes it a perfect backdrop for Dîner en Blanc,” says Natanya DiBona, the Philadelphia co-chair of the event. “The goal is to spend an extraordinary night – an unconventional picnic – and gather Philadelphians in a beautiful public space to reconnect friends and create new relationships.”

The waiting list for the Philadelphia edition of the international event is available by clicking here. When registration officially opens in a few weeks, all waiting list members will receive notification to register themselves and a guest, as well as select a meeting location for the day of the event. Registrants who are too busy to pack their own picnics will also be given the option of pre-ordering a gourmet meal from the event’s caterer, Garces Catering.

Dressed in white, participants then converge upon their designated meeting spots with tables, chairs, non-disposal supplies, great food and – in true Parisian style – fine wine. From there, participants will be led by their table hosts to the secret location.

Here’s what you won’t encounter: car and pedestrian traffic. And although it’s not uncommon for the event to attract attention, the number of slots available for this first year are limited.

Registration takes place on a first come, first served basis. Dîner en Blanc is also BYOB, so all participants must be at least 21 years old.

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Serafina Liedy

My husband made this for me late last night and let me tell you it was worth the wait. It is divine, thank you soooo much. Excellent recipe. Oh ya, he added a layer of strawberries in the middle and on top if anyone wants to try that. I’m a sucker for strawberry cheesecake!!

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